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Dating from the late 1960s and presented by U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command, “Command and Control” is a U.S. Air Force film that profiles the command and control systems developed for national defense, including the early versions of the ITT 465L / SACCS system. The film includes shots of various mainframe computers and communications equipment, including integrated networks that helped foment what we now know as the Internet. The film contains some fascinating images including shots of communications centers, top secret documents, early IBM mainframe computers, command staff, the Air Force Chief of Staff, the War Room, tactical displays, and more. The Strategic Automated Command and Control System (SACCS) is a United States Strategic Command command and control system to coordinate the operational functions of United States nuclear forces (ICBMs, nuclear bombers, and SLBMs).

Film opens, Department of the Air Force seal and opening credits (0:06). Different badges and pins on uniforms denoting rank and position (0:28). Fleet of Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs (1:04). McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II flies through sky (1:29). Plume of smoke and fire as rocket soars into sky (1:38). Appears as if a Boeing 747 assisting rocket in flight (1:54). Bustling command center with mainframe computers and various communications technology (2:02). Footage of perhaps one of the Atlas Able launches 1960s (2:08). Fictitious scenario requiring fast-acting command and control system: Military exercise in Gunsan, soldiers traverse jungle on foot and with pack of elephants (2:15). Emergency action center at Pentagon; Close-up switchboard connecting command post with all Air Force command and control systems (2:44). Air support for ground troops requested, Air Force chief of staff at Pentagon decides how to proceed, what crucial information is needed i.e. available runways etc. (3:21). How airfield data collected and calculated in the past: Advisors spend hours in office charting by hand on maps, telephone operators frantically connecting lines, data gathered from various locations and storage units (3:44). Improvement to method: Technological advancements - various shots of 1960s IBM mainframe computers, updates to Seoul Headquarters United States Air Force, officers at command center at Pentagon working on IBM machines and magnetic tape drives (5:08). Animated segment on transmission of data and information from commands all over the world: Information on manpower, weapon systems, resources, communications, weather, air bases, medical facilities; Help form plans and policies for different political and military situations (7:10). Exterior shot of United Nations Headquarters, NYC (8:55). Demonstration of method in practice (9:02). Commanders gathered in room with projector to watch demo film on benefits of automated method and how it is better than manual method, small film centering Gunsan begins (9:21). US Air Force chief of staff at Pentagon calls in personnel at various offices using Bell Communications systems call director phone; Scenes of staff being called in at the office, from home, and from golf course (9:58). Data on airfields, length and composition of runway, fueling areas collected in computer (11:02). Exterior shot of US State Department, Washington DC, collecting data on airspace and international treaties (11:17). Exterior entrance to Pentagon (11:58). Exterior shot of the White House (12:05). Request for aid relayed over computer systems; Data helps answer ascertain questions i.e. can air support come from Europe, Far East? Number of troops already en route etc. (12:11). USAF Boeing 707 variant takes off from runway (12:51). Streamline of data allows for personal to have time to plan for contingency plan or other unforeseen circumstances (13:40). Summary of film main points, “situation” in Gunsan under control, shots of Air Force command center and officers working around large desk (15:36). Closing credits (16:58). Film ends (17:05).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com